Portsmouth City Council has been awarded a £239,500 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a new project exploring Hampshire’s D-Day marshalling camps through The D-Day Story museum.
The funding will allow The D-Day Story museum to collaborate with veterans’ charities and local community organisations to survey and document the sites, many of which were crucial during preparations for the D-Day landings. The research will be used to develop an interactive online database displaying troop movements between the camps.
Volunteers will gain new skills whilst participating in activities such as site surveys, archival research, exhibitions, and guided walks. The initiative also seeks to preserve some of the camps for future generations.
Schools and communities throughout Hampshire will be invited to participate in a complimentary programme of events to discover more about the essential preparations that occurred in the region before D-Day.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council with responsibility for culture, said:
“We’re enormously grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for backing this vital work. This initiative will help us discover and share the stories of the servicemen who passed through Hampshire’s marshalling camps, and ensure their legacy is safeguarded for future generations.
As the councillor responsible for Portsmouth’s museums, I am privileged to have developed an even greater understanding of the sacrifice and courage of those who contributed to D-Day, and the city holds those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice extremely close to our hearts.”
The D-Day Story museum will collaborate with partners, volunteers and residents to increase awareness of the camps’ historical importance and make archival material accessible to the public.
For information about this project, events and volunteering opportunities, please visit The D-Day Story website.
